The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) announces that the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, which evaluates weekly water quality at popular swimming beaches throughout the territory by sampling for enterococci bacteria and turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity, advises the public of the following:
DPNR performed water quality analysis at 27 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Oct. 16- 20. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Cane Bay
Dorsch
New Fort (Fort Louise Augusta)
Frederiksted Public Beach
Gentle Winds
Davis Bay
Columbus Landing
Buccaneer
Pelican Cove
Shoy’s
Princess Condo Row – Breezes
St. Thomas
Magens Bay
Vessup Bay
Secret Harbor
Sapphire
Lindbergh Bay
Coki Point
St. John
Cruz Bay
Oppenheimer
Great Cruz Bay
Frank Bay
The following beaches do not meet water quality standards because they exceed the established enterococci bacteria threshold, and, therefore, are not considered to be safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Princess Condo Row – Mill Harbor
Cramer Park
Grapetree Bay
St. Thomas
Brewers Bay
Lindqvist
The following beaches could not be sampled because access to them or the use of their waters pose a risk to health and safety; therefore, the water quality at these beaches is unknown:
St. Croix
Rainbow
Chenay Bay
Stoney Ground
Protestant Cay
Ha’ penny
St. Thomas
Bolongo Bay
Bluebeard’s
Frenchman’s Bay
Limetree
Water Bay
Hull Bay
Morningstar
All persons should also be aware that storm water runoff due to hurricanes and tropical storms may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health due to storm debris; therefore, they should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles and drainage basins). DPNR will continue to monitor the impacted areas and waters.
For additional information regarding water quality, call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.
